When a roster includes a player the caliber of Anthony Davis, candidates are going to line up when the head coaching job becomes available. That doesn't mean they'll wait forever for the opportunity.
The New Orleans Pelicans have interviewed Scott Skiles for their head coaching vacancy, according to a report from Marc Stein of ESPN, adding another name to their already complex search.
While that's worth noting, it likely means little, as Skiles is "inching closer" to a deal to become the new head coach of the Orlando Magic, according to a report from Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports.
Those conversations are expected to continue Thursday in Orlando, with the two sides having progressed far enough to begin talking contract figures. The Magic had also met with recent New York Knicks head coach Mike Woodson, but Skiles' track record turning teams around quickly and his reputation as a strict defensive coach have ingratiated him to the Magic front office.
The Magic aren't the only ones high on Skiles, as Pelicans general manager Dell Demps played for him in Greece and is an admirer, according to Stein.
The Pelicans seem justifiably committed to leaving no stone unturned as they look to replace Monty Williams, who was fired at the end of the season. The team's next head coach will not only be tasked with leading the team through Davis' prime years, he'll also be responsible in part for convincing him to put pen to paper on a maximum extension of his rookie contract.
In other words, this hire could be the franchise's most important move since drafting Davis in 2012.
After interviewing Alvin Gentry and meeting with Jeff Van Gundy - while they wait for the Chicago Bulls to fire Tom Thibodeau, according to some admittedly conflicting reports - the Pelicans turning their attention to Skiles is an interesting turn.
The Magic were originally believed to have interest in Thibodeau, too, but have backed off thanks to the complicated game of chicken going on in Chicago. Losing Skiles could have conceivably renewed their interest, but that no longer seems to be an issue. Neither the Magic nor Pelicans have been willing to offer the Bulls compensation for Thibodeau, and no team has asked permission to interview him despite Chicago being amenable to such a scenario.
There are a ton of moving parts here with the same group of candidates likely in the running for multiple jobs. The Denver Nuggets are reportedly leaning toward keeping interim coach Melvin Hunt at the helm, meaning Skiles, Van Gundy, Thibodeau, Gentry, and maybe more are all jostling for jobs in Orlando, New Orleans, and maybe Chicago.
Skiles would represent a somewhat disappointing end to New Orleans' search. He's not a bad coach and is a quality defensive mind, but he proved inflexible on the offensive end until late in his previous tenures and has a reputation for wearing on his players within a few seasons. Gentry is a more fun offensive choice, Thibodeau a more intriguing defensive option, and Van Gundy possibly the most entertaining fit of all.
The same truths hold for the Magic, but Skiles feels a better fit with the roster and with where the team is on the development curve.
